One dead and one seriously injured after falling down a ravine in a rally race in the Serra de Tramuntana

PalmaA 63-year-old driver has died and the 39-year-old co-driver has suffered spinal injuries after the vehicle they were participating in plunged down a ravine during the sixth edition of the Mallorca 550 Challenge Rally. The accident took place at kilometer 10 of the Ma-10 road, in the direction of Lluc from Pollença, near Mortitx, as reported by the Civil Guard.

Personnel from the Alcúdia and Inca stations of the Mallorca Fire Department were dispatched to the scene of the accident to descend to the area where the vehicle landed and rescue the injured person and the body of the deceased victim.

The rally is suspended following the accident

The event organization has announced the suspension of the competition in a statement in which it expressed that it regrets having to make it public. As detailed, the accident occurred during the dispute of the section between Pollença and Lluc.

Following the death of one of the participants and the serious injuries suffered by his partner, the rally organizers have decided to suspend all remaining timed stages and end both the competition and all related activities. The organization defined the decision to suspend the event as "painful but firm and irrevocable," and assured that it was taken "out of the deepest respect and the consideration that circumstances of this gravity deserve."

In the statement, those responsible for the Rally Challenge of Mallorca remarked that "there is no result, classification or sporting objective that can be placed above what is truly important." Therefore, they added: "The competition takes a back seat" so that "respect, humanity and solidarity" prevail. Finally, the organization expressed its "deepest regret" for the events and conveyed its sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of both the deceased participant and the injured co-pilot.